Paper stacker

ABSTRACT

A paper stacker for prefolded paper, comprising a paper collecting device and a paper feed device which is arranged thereabove and which comprises a rigidly arranged drivable first shaft which is coupled to a second shaft which is capable of performing a swinging movement with respect to the first shaft. At least the second shaft is provided with two paper tractors, the second shaft being connected via at least one arm to a third shaft which is coupled to the second shaft and which is provided with at least one gearwheel which can roll down along a toothed rack path which consists of two parallel toothed racks which are connected by two semi-circular gear rings.

United States Patent 1191 3,820,700 Quirijnen 1 June 28, 1974 1 1 PAPERSTACKER 2,761,678 9/1956 Cohn et a1, 270/79 3.195.883 7/1965 s 111 111 1. ..270/79 [75] Inventor: Mar'us Ql'r'lneniRllswuk 3,464,610 9/1969226/43 Netherlands [73] Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation, New PrimaryExaminer-Allen N. Knowles York, NY.

Filed: Apr. 23, 1973 Appl. No.: 353,578

Foreign Application Priority Data May 27, 1972 Netherlands 7207217 U.S.Cl 226/74, 270/39, 270/79, 226/171 Int. Cl. G03b 1/30 Field of Search226/74, 75, 171; 270/39, 270/79 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS6/1956 Cohn et a1. 270/79 Attorney, Agent, or FirmFrank R. Trifari [5 7]ABSTRACT third shaft which is coupled to the second shaft and which isprovided with at least one gearwheel which can. roll down along atoothed rack path which consists of two parallel toothed racks which areconnected by two semi-circular gear rings.

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PAPER STACKER l I The invention relates to a paper stacker, comprising apaper collecting device and a paper feed device which is arrangedthereabove and which comprises a rigidly arranged drivable first shaftwhich is coupled to a second shaft which is capable of performing aswing ing movement with respect to the first shaft. at least the secondshaft being provided with at least two paper tractors which are providedwith pins which can engage in a perforation track provided in the paper.

A paper stacker of the kind set forth is known from US. PatentSpecification No. 3,464.6 l 0. In this known device the paper feeddevice consists of two paper tractors which are provided with pins whichengage in perforation tracks, the said tractors being guided over twoshafts, the first of which is driven and the second of which performs aswinging movement. The swinging movement is achieved by coupling thesecond shaft, via a cranck drive shaft mechanism, to a wheel which iscoupled to thefirst shaft via gearwheels. A relationship is thusproduced between .the advancement of the paper andthe swinging movement.This relationship The fixed relationship between paper speed and'swinging movement means that this known device can only process one kindof paper with a given distance between the folds. For paper having adifferent distance between folds, other gearwheels and a differentcranck drive shaft mechanism must be used.

The invention has for its object to provide a paper stacker by means ofwhich all distances between folds can be dealt with in a very simplemanner.

So as to achieve this object, the paper stacker according to theinvention is characterized in that the second shaft is connected via atleast one lever to a third shaft which is coupled to the second shaftand which is provided with at least one gearwheel which can roll downalong a toothed rack path, consisting of two parallel toothed rackswhich are connected by two semicircular gear rings, the distance betweenthe semicircular gear rings being adjustable. By adjustment of thedistance between thetwo semi-circular gear rings, the stroke of theswinging movement of the second shaft can be accurately adjusted, forexample, to be equal to the distance between two folds. When the strokeis changed, the swinging frequency is automatically adapted in thecorrect ratio.

The invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawingwhich is a diagrammatic representation, by way of example, of a paperstacker.

FIGS. 1 and 2 diagrammatically show the principle of a paper stacker intwo mutually perpendicular crosssectional views.

FIGS. 3 and 4 diagrammatically illustrate another embodiment of a paperstacker.

The reference 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2 denotes a paper collecting bin. Thisbin is arranged on a number of springs 2 of a construction such thatunder the influence of the weight of the collected paper the bin islowered so that the paper level always remains substantially the same.

3. This mechanism comprises a first shaft 4 which is connected to anelectric motor 6 via a coupling 5.

Provided on the shaft 4 are two pulleys 7 and. 8, on which belts 9 and10 are guided, each of which is provided with a number of pins 11 and12, respectively. The belts 9 and 10 are further guided over two pulleysl3 and 14, respectively, which are provided on a second shaft 15. Thesecond shaft 15 is journalled on the first shaft by way of two levers16. Also provided on the second shaft is a pulley on which a belt 18 isguided which further runs over a pulley 19 on a shaft 20.

Both ends of this shaft 20 are connected to the shaft 15 by an arm 21,the shaft 20 being provided on both ends with a gearwheel 22. Thisgearwheel 22 cooperates with a toothed rack path, having inner toothingand consisting of two parallel toothed racks 23 and 24 which areprovided in a frame 25, and two semi circular gear rings 26 and 27 whichconstitute a connection between the ends of the toothed racks 23 and 24.The gear rings 26 and 27 are arranged to be slidable in the frame in thelongitudinal direction of the toothed racks 23 and 24, so that thedistance between the gear rings can be adjusted as desired.

The frame 25 is furthermore provided with a race 28 on which a wheel 29,connected to the gearwheel 22, rolls down.

In given circumstances, the gearwheel 22, the toothed rack path 25, 24,25 etc. can be omitted on one side of the shaft 20, so that a guide ispresent on only one side.

The operation of the described device is as follows.

The paper, denoted in the drawing by a broken line 30 and provided withfolds which are situated at a regular distance from each other, engagespins 11, 12 on the belts 9, 10 via perforation tracks. The motor 6drives the shaft 4. The pulleys 7, 8 drive the belts 9 and 10 which inturn drive the pulleys 13, 14, and hence the second shaft 15.

A plate 31 prevents the paper from coming loose from the pins ll, 12.

Provided on the second shaft is a pulley which is coupled, via a belt18, to a pulley 19 on the shaft 20. As a result, the shaft 20 will alsobe driven so that gearwheel22 starts to roll down along the toothedracks 23, 24 and the gear rings 26, 27. As a result, aswinging movement.is imparted to the second shaft 15, the stroke length thereofcorresponding approximately to the distance between the gear rings 26and 27. The adjustment can be such that the stroke is equal to thedistance bet-ween the folds in the paper, so that this paper is neatlyfolded in the bin 1. The stroke can alternative'ly be slightly smallerthan the distance between folds.

If paper having a different distance between the folds is to be stacked,the stroke and the frequency of the swinging movement can be veryreadily adapted to this new distance between the folds by readjustmentof merely the distance between the gear rings 26 and 27. The stroke aswell as the frequency are thus adapted to the newsituation. It is thuspossible to handle any kind of paper by means of this device.

The adjustment of the rings 26 and 27 can be manually effected or bymeans of a displacement mechanism such as, for example, a threadedspindle and a nut on each gear ring.

Even though the shaft 15 is provided with a gearwheel on both ends inthe drawing, the said gearwheel cooperating with a toothed rack, it willbe obvious that in given circumstances it is sufficient to provide agearwheel and toothed rack construction on only one side of the shaft15.

H68. 3 and 4 show a slightly different embodiment of a paper stacker inwhich the components which also form part of the device shown in FIGS. 1and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. This device differswith respect to the device shown in FIG. 1 in that the paper tractors l1and 12 have a different construction,

The shafts 4 and 15 are now coupled by flat belts 32.

Furthermore, the paper tractors 33 and 34 which are provided with pinsare guided over pulleys 35 on shaft 15 and pulleys 36 on an auxiliaryshaft 37 which is journalled in the arms 16.

The operation of this device is the same as that of the device shown inFIGS. 1- and 2, so it will not be elaborated.

Another advantage of the mechanism according to the invention is thatthe paper tractors 9, l and 33, 34,

respectively. can pull the paper as far as just above the alreadystacked paper. which is very benificial to proper stacking.

What is claimed is:

l. A paper stacker for prefolded paper comprising a paper collectingdevice and a paper feed device which is arranged thereabove and whichcomprises a rigidly arranged drivable first shaft which is coupled to asecond shaft which is capable of performing a swinging movement withrespect to the first shaft. at least the second shaft being providedwith at least two paper tractors which are provided with pins whichengage in a perforation track provided in the paper, characterized inthat the second shaft is connected, via at least one lever, to a thirdshaft which is coupled to the second shaft and which is provided with atleast one gearwheel which can roll down along a toothed rack pathconsisting of two parallel toothed racks which are connected by twosemi-circular gear rings, the distance between the semi-circular gearrings being adjustable.

$21 2? 0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC p e I CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIONpatent 3,820,700 Dated June 28, 1974 v g MARIUS QUIRIJNEN It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent I andthatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

A paper-stacker for prefolded paper, comprisinga paper collecting deviceand a paper feed device which is arranged ther'eabove and whichcomprises a rigidly arranged drivable first shaft; a isecond shaftcoupled to said first shaft and, capable" of performing a swingingmovement with respect to p I the first shaft; at least two papertractors provided on at least the second shaft 7 and which are providedwith pins engagingin aperfor'ation track in the paper, a third shaftcoupled to saidsecond shaft by at least onelever, at least onegearwheel" providedon said third shaft which can roll I r down along atoothed rack path of two parallel toothed racks which are connected bytwo semi-circular gear rings, the I distance betweenthe semi circulargear rings being adjust.-

able. I

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of December 1974.

(SEAL) "Attest: i ,McCOY M. GIBSON'JR; c. MARSHALL DANEv attestingOfficer I I 1 I comissionerfof Patents A

1. A paper stacker for prefolded paper, comprising a paper collectingdevice and a paper feed device which is arranged thereabove and whichcomprises a rigidly arranged drivable first shaft which is coupled to asecond shaft which is capable of performing a swinging movement withrespect to the first shaft, at least the second shaft being providedwith at least two paper tractors which are provided with pins whichengage in a perforation track provided in the paper, characterized inthat the second shaft is connected, via at least one lever, to a thirdshaft which is coupled to the second shaft and which is provided with atleast one gearwheel which can roll down along a toothed rack pathconsisting of two parallel toothed racks which are connected by twosemi-circular gear rings, the distance between the semi-circular gearrings being adjustable.